The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1887-09-18
THE FsAMEns OF rHB CONTRIBUTION.
The Great Debt we owe Them censtaerea
~ the Her. GeerEe Tickner Cnrtis.
NEW YoRK, Sept. IA, 1887.

NEW YORK, sept. IL, 1887.
p D. Ssone Eso, Philadelphia
DEAR SIR: have had the honor Of receiv-
Ing the invitation OF the American Philosoph-
zeal Society and other learned bodies request
ing my company at tho banquet which they
Arc to give at Philadelphia on tho 18th inst.
IN comm emoration Of the framing and signing
az tho Constitution OF the United Statos. I
regret most sincerely that circumstances be-
yond my control prevent me from accepting
this fattoring and polite invitation. The
thoughts and emotions which this one hun
dredth anniversary OF the framing and signing
a our national Constitution excite in every
thoughtful mind throne upon me in great
numbers and force. The occasion will call
forth an abundance Of most interesting re-
nections and the little that could contribute.
present must content myself with express
Ing In this letter.
The century that has elapsed since the 18th
day OF September 1887. has witnessed most
important changes In the science OF govern
ment as we'll as in the conditions Of nations.
Il saw. In it's first quarter. the downfall Of tho
arst French empire Of modern times. and the
ruin Of that colossal system. which had Its or
icin In the intellect and ambition OF the first
Napoleon. It saw tho French nation return to
Domet hing like their ancient monarchy. and
The restoration OF the Bourbon kings. In Eng
land It saw, with the end Of the reign Of George
ner;ssonal power Of the. monarch. vast in
srease In tho power ,S, oi the the Hogse q Com
than the British had syss
previously known. At q later period came tho
s sesn ., louis Lou Philippe and then another roSo
Pseneh empire under
Icon. This, too. was swept away by the effect
=: sn g IL ssi Ps,ss ara asyssn%sss 81
en n 81 ssss sf
Spd az naonsl %n n
CO seds GH tie Telen Of Queen 2IStoSia; and that
he 81
progress as can probably be attained under
other oIS ooantries- participated In tie for
ss s psy e
Il Tor the purposes of recollection. only. I
Sas ssen the WheIe q tie reign II oaeen VIC
toria and the changes that have taken 81. place
things that were observed after some power Of
observation had been acquired. Az my recol.
lie Eholss, q those events which snb||eosed
s ssd ess q se
@sas. as sSs ssssmpsa
ny the
Ras Isg
special wisdom, furnish me with E vast fund q
% great, as we have right to feel that 4 is. I
owe It to the trainers Of our Constitution that
we are what we are, and that present and
q ,bs our sops should be
ing to the Invitation to come to, Philadelphia
ser sa ns @ ma The most
work x1oS " to odsIn
saGs sfIGks 70 speak, In It's TO
Know not how Mr.. Gladstone would express
subscribe. have no dinicuity in ASSIGNING ths
Il ae s whh tSe
fps we're snS 9nS
ali Of w them and lie great BODY q she!l eci:
sec that In framing new government for
States then held together only by very weak
It's fra@ewort Largely to grow out Of the cir
eHmstances and situation Of the country.
Theories. however. and in the abstract OK.
s snsMss any s9'ens anS
pose. Hence. what have been called the
imposed By inyineible. necessities. must Do
regarded as foEtunate because they secured
pSSa dsesss 81 sPa
ali has been said. and completely OK
%ssS through hs ssas Of tbsfs the es
discovery in the science Of government made
shs tbs s
RItnciple and has secured its perpetntty
ns BUT and
:pscs 70 the spesilo powers that arc 70 30 q.
isre sS us soVern@ents. Tho principle that ~
es Ss Iay s Of
Rs q sran their tRsn
La ,ass %ss 81 the
american REVOLUTION, and was not first sug-
aon se
a,seyerance Of the, powers Of 9 sovereign peo-
ernment, while all the others can be retained
By the separate States composing confeder-
scy-that this can be done by special enumer-
alton and description OF the powers that the
exercise was In, that age q novelty,
pur Constitution. It should not detract from
thetr mort or their glory that the people OF
ne States desired q more emphatic reserva.
ton OF the remaining powers OF government
to the States and to Themselves. which they
Effected by the tenth amendment The divisi-
9lity Of sovereign powers remains as the new
escovery in the science o. goyerpment, which
belongs to the trainers Of the Constitution;
ior they perfectly understood and intended
mat all that was not granted to the general
Government, or prohibited to the States. would
remain with the States or their people =, l
Syisibilityoi sovereienty, 80 new ct that time. re-
new as We understand and practise it's the
one achievement which entities the trainers OF
our Constitution TO the rank as statesmen and
publicists which Mr.. Gladstone has assigned
70 them. Perhaps they builded better than
they knew. It is certain that they. regarded
the Constitution as an experiment. Of doubtful
issue; but they had done everything within
the compass Of human wisdom TO make It sue
eeseful. and many OF them lived to contribute
their personal efforts to It's success. and TO lind